Effect of L-carnitine on the Cardiac Function of Patient with Chronic Heart Failure

Objective: To explore the efficacy and security of L-carnitine on the cardiac function of patients with chronic heart failure.Methods: 60 hospitalized patients of chronic heart failure in our department were selected and randomly divided into the treatment group and control group.Both groups received the conventional treatment including diuretics,and digitalis,etc.The treatment group was assigned to the dosage of L-carnitine 3 g per day intravenously for the seven days on the basis of the conventional therapy.The Galectin-3 and brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) concentration,6 min maximum walking distance,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and heart function before and after treatment were measured and compared in both two groups.Results: Before treatment,no signnificant difference was found in the serum Galectin-3 and BNP levels,LVEF,6 min maximum walking distance between two groups(P0.05).After treatment,the serum Galectin-3 and BNP levels of both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment,respectively;while LVEF and 6 min maximum walking distance were respectively higher than those before treatment(P0.05).Moreover,the serum levels of Galectin-3,BNP were significantly lower in the L-carnitine group than those of the control group,while LVEF and 6min maximum walking distance were markedly higher than those of the control group(P 0.05).The total efficiency of L-carnitine group and contorl group were respectively 96.7% and 80%,which was significantly higher in the L-carnitine group than that of the control group(P0.05).No statistically significant difference of was observed in the occurrence of adverse reactions between two groups(P0.05).Conclusion: Conventional treatment combined with L-carnitine ccould significantly improve the cardiac function,increase the exercise capacity and improve the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure with no obvious adverse reactions,and is worthy of clinical application.